Telephone pay station apparatus



ng. .8, 1933. EDWARDS 1,921,072

TELEPHONE PAY STATION, APPARATUS ATroRNEY` Aug. 8, 1933.

W. H. EDWARDS TELEPHONE PAY STATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR BYW H. EDWARDS aATTORNEY ug- 8, 1933- w. H.EDWARDS TELEPHONE PAY STATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BV? HEDWARDS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933UNITED As'ra'rss 1,921,072 TELEPHONE PAY s'rA'rroN ArrARA'rUsV WilliamHopple Edwards, Great Neck, N. Y., as-

signor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a .Corporation ofNew York Application November 2,

15 Claims.

have not been completed, and later removing the obstruction andappropriating the accumulated coins. The problem of designing a coinreturn chute within the cost .and space requirements, which is capableof discharging a number of coins of various denominationssimultaneously, which also provides protection `against tampering 2Qwith-the coin magnet mechanism through the return chute, and which atthe same time is proof against efforts at obstructing it,is a dinicultone.

One of the objects of this invention consists 25 in providing coincollecting apparatus which will detect the presence of obstructions andwill prevent the operation of the refunding mechanism as long as theobstructions are present.

A further object of this invention consists in 3B arranging thedetecting :and disabling operations so that the operator, in case-of amanual coin collector, or the central oilice mechanism,

in the case of a dial coin collector, will recognize the disabled refundcondition, so that they trouble can bek cleared and an adjustment of therefund with the patron Ican be arranged, and so that the money thatcould not be refunded will be collected by the telephone company .tocompensate for the ladjustment made to Athe patron.

Another object of the invention is to provide for continued operation ofthe coin collector until the mechanism is cleared. This invention .hasthe ultimate object of preventing any possibility of fraudulent `gainiby obstructing the coin .retur-n chute, thereby discouraging any suchattempts. A further object ofthe inventionis to provide a mechanismwhich will not add any load on the operating mechanism of the coinmagnet under normal circumstances .and will, therefore, not decrease thesensitivity of the magnet and the length of thev loops over which i-tcan be operated. g y

A still further object is to provide a mecha- 1932. serialNofsioes (ci17e- 6.31

nism which has a positie-1e action insuring .complete freedom for thecoin magnet .mechanism when the return chute is not stu-fled andabsolutely blocking the relay against refunding voperations when thereturn chute is stuffed. Y

An additional object is to provide an indication to the patron usingthe-coin box so that he can report the trouble in case the refundmechanism is rendered inoperative by disabling the mechanism associatedwith the return chute opening. 1 Y This return chute mechanism .consists,of a movable plug which is provided to close the return chute ope-ningand is intended to be moved inward by the ,patrons linger when removingthe refunded coins from the return chute. Thev plug and chute mechanismarel ar- PArEN'r oir-'Fica ranged so that it is impossible to s-tulmaterial behind the plug and the only recourse for 't the person.attempting to stuff the mechanism would be to block the plug itself. Ifan attempt is made to block the plug in the forward position by wedgingit with material inserted between the'plug and the coin return .chutevopening, thevpa-tron may free the plug by pushing in on the plug inview `of its tapered `construcinvolve any 4added load on the coinmagnet, as

.the connecting linkage is .entirely disconnected when the .chute is inthe unstui-ed condition.

As a result of the blocking of the refund operation, the operator incaseof'a manual coin collec-tor would not be able to `clear the trap wherethe coins are resting by the operation of the coi-n return key. V'EF-heline sig-nal will rlight again after` the operator has disconnected .thecord, inasmuch as the trigger has remained in the tripped position.However, `after plugging Y in again, the 'operator will beable tocollect-the vcoins by operating the Icoin collect key. The mechanismwill function, inthe regular manner depositing the coins inthe coinreceptacle, re- .storing the trigger, Vopening 'the ground andpreventing .the line signal from relighting when Cir rio

the operator disconnects again. This sequence of events gives a definiteindication to the operator that the money has not been refunded and thatthe patron is entitled to a refund, which may be arranged by othermeans. The amount to be refunded is not lost to the telephone company asthe coinslhave-been collected. Furthermore, the operator is able toreport the stuffed condition so that the trouble maybe cleared. In themeantime, the coin collector is not outof service, as coins may becollected in the regular manner and refunded as outlined. VIt 'will benoted that as long as the mechanism is stuffed, coins cannot bereturned,and the person who has stuffed the chute cannot profit by the attempt todefraud the pay station patrons, and is thereby discouraged from furtherattempts.

In case vof a dial coin collector, when the pay station patron hangs upafter a calling attempt for which the money is to be refunded, thecentral oflice mechanism automatically appliesrefund current to the lineand a short period thereafter tests to determine Whether the circuit toground at the coincollector has been opened by the operation of the coinmagnet and restoration of the coin trigger. I-Iowever, since the coinmagnet is prevented from operating in the refund direction, the groundcircuit will still be closed when the test for ground is made. Thiscauses a signal to be operated at a special operators position. Theoperator will then plug into the line and if the patron has againremoved the receiver to request the return of his coin, can learn fromhim of the unsuccessful attempt at refunding. The operator can thenproceed to adjust the matter rand arrange to have the trouble cleared asoutlined above for a manual coin collector. In case, however, the patrondoes not communicate with the operator to request the refund of themoney, the operator will rst attempt to collect the coins and beingsuccessful will clear the collector forV further service. Repeatedinstances of calls from the same pay station being referred to thespecial operator in which the ground is removed by collecting the coinsgive an indication of stuffing or other trouble and the trouble can bereported and cleared.

Furthermore, as soon as the mechanism is f freed by a patron ortelephone company representative by the removal of the material wedgingthe block in the rearmost position, the mechanism is `restored withoutfurther adjustment of the mechanism.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of this inventionare set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith other objects and advantages thereof, will be further explained inthe following detailed Adescription having reference to the accompanyingdrawings consisting of thefollowing figures: l

Figure 1 is acircuit diagram embodying the improved invention andshowing a manual central office A at which the line of a substation Bterminates;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, as seen diagonally from. theside and front,` of the lower housing of a coin collector showing thecoin hoppermechanism, a portion of the relay 'operating arm, the togglelinkage mechanism for blocking the relay arm, the connectingmechanism tothe'n'iovablel plug in the return chute opening and the construction ofthe plug and return chute embodied in one form of this invention whichis shown in the normal unoperated position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View in diagrammatic form seen from the sameposition as Fig. 2 with the plug in the rear-most position showing how apatrons finger is inserted in the return chute to extract the refundedcoins. It also shows the manner in which the plug blocks the returnchute leading to the coin magnet and how the toggle linkage functions tointercept the coin vane from operation in the refund direction with theplug in this position;

Fig. 4 isa topview of a partial section of the coin return chutemechanism, the section being taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 5 withthe relay and operating arm omitted. The parts are shown in the normalunoperated position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the refund mechanism taken along thelines 5 5 of Fig. 4. In this view also, the parts are shown in thenormal unoperated position. In this View the coin control magnet Withthe trigger and ground contact mechanism is shown.

In the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated inconnection with a coin collector of the type disclosed in Patent No.1,043,219, of November 5, 1912, to O. F. Forsberg. This patent shows theusual coin collector magnet and coin refund chute. This Forsberg magnetand coin hopper are used without change in this invention.

As may be seen by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the refund chute isprovided Within the casing 1 by parallel vertical side walls 68 and 69'between which an inclined bottom wall 2 is positioned. An opening 3V isformed between these walls through which refunded coins travel `in theirpassagefrom the coin control apparatus to a vertical opening 4 throughwhich they may be recovered by the patron. A tapered plug 5 is pivotedon a pin 70 so that it normally lls the opening 4 in the return chuteclosing off the interior of the return chute completely. The pin '70 isprovided with av slotted head at one end with a threaded nut on theother end to hold it in place between the side Walls 68 and 69. The plug5, which may be made of die-cast aluminum, molded bakelite, or fashionedfrom some other suitable material, has an extension portion 54 with anintegral collar 10 which serves as a locating member and a bearing forthe plug on the pin 70. A spring l1 made from spring steel Wire or othersuitable material is coiled around the collar 10 of the plug 5 and isintendedto keep the plug 5 in its forwardposition or to return it tothat position when it is moved to permit the extraction of coins fromthe return chute. As shown in Fig. 3 when the operator has refundedcoins, the patron inserts his finger into the opening 4, pushing plug 5to the rear so that the coins may be extracted from the depression inthe bottom portions 2 of the chute. In this position, plug 5 entirelyblocks the opening 3 of the chute so that it protects the coin controlmagnet from tampering by means of wires or other foreign objectsinserted through the return chute. In this position, the opening 12 inthe roof 13 of the return chute is also closed by the extension 54 ofthe plug 5. Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the return chute isconstructed with the plate 14 at the top of the opening 4. The plug 5 isformed so that in the forward vposition it fits snugly in the opening 4as it is provided with the magnet 9. Consequently, theV coin 26 willremain on the trap 7. `The armature 66 not having operated, the cointrigger 22 will have prevented the coin trigger 21 from restoring.Consequently, as long as the plug 5 is wedged in the rearmost position,the refunding of coins and the clearing out of the signaling circuit tothe central oilice is prevented. This will not, however, prevent thecollection 0f coins and the clearing out of the central office ground asheretofore described. However, if at any time the plug is released, therefunding operation can henceforth be accomplished in the normal mannerand the signaling circuit to the central office cleared out normally.

Fig. l shows the circuits involved in a manual central oflice A and atthe station B for operating the coin collector. When a coin 26 isdeposited in the coin chute to obtain a connection, it trips the cointrigger 21, permitting the coin trigger arm 22 to drop and close theground contact springs 23. A circuit will be established under theseconditions over the following path: From grounded contact 23, coils ofmagnet 9, tip side of line L, closed contact of relay 27, and Winding ofrelay 23 to battery. The closure of this circuit will energize relay 23and thereby light lamp 29. .The operator,` noting this light, willinsert plug 36 in `jack 31 and cause lamp 29 to be extinguished asfollows. The battery 50 is closed through the lamp 47, lighting thislamp, through conductor 43, sleeve contacts of plug 30 and jack 31,energizing relay 27. This opens the contacts of relay 27, deenergizingrelay 28 and extinguishing lamp 29. 1n the meantime, it may be assumedthat the patron at station B has removed the receiver from the hook andits contacts 33 are closed. This completes a circuit from the battery 39through the repeating coil winding 46 to the contact 41 of the key 32through the contact 42 of key 36 to the tip of the plug 3 tip contact ofthe jack 31 over the tip side of the line L through the talking circuitof the station B, back through the ring side of the line L, jack 31 andplug 30, the contacts 43 of key 36 and contacts 44 of key 32 through thesupervisory relay 45, repeating coil winding 46 back to the other sideof battery 39. The closure of this circuit causes the energization ofrelay 45 which closes contacts 49, shunting the lamp 47, but stillholding operated the relay 27 from the battery 39. The operator can nowcommunicate with station B and obtain the number desired by the patroncalling from station B. ln the event the call is completed, the coincollect key 32 is operated, and the coin 26 deposited in the coin box inthe following manner. The operation of key 3,2 closes a circuit frompositive battery, lamp 33, winding of relay 34, upper make contact 35 ofcollect key 32, upper closed contact 53 of key 36, tip contacts of plug30 and jack 31, tip conductor of line L, windings of magnet 9, closedcontact 23 to ground. The closure of the circuit just described willcause lamp 33 to be lighted and relay 34 to be energized. This relaywill close a circuit through its make contact from ground and batterythrough the filament of pilot lamp 37 and cause it to be lighted also.As referred to previously, the energizing of magnet 9 will act on thearmature 66 and move the operating arm 8 t0 the left thereby causing thecoin 26 to be collected. While the magnet 9 is operated, the

ynet operating arm 8 and the armature 66 of ground contact springs 23are held closed by the armature 66. trigger arm 22 (Fig. 5) is lifted sothat the coin trigger 21 can restore by gravity. When the key 32 isreleased the circuit is deenergized, magnet 9 will be opened and theretractile springs on the armature 66 will cause the operating arm 8 torestore to normal. 9 has restored, the ground Contact springs v23 willbe opened. After the patron has replaced the receiver on the hook, therelay 45fwill be deenergized removing the shunt from the lamp 47 andrelighting the lamp 47. The operator can now disconnect the plug 30 fromthe jack 31, deenergizing the relay 27\ The circuit for relay 28 throughthe ground contact springs 23 At the same time the coinV When the magnethas already been opened by the collection of the coins. Thus, thecircuits at the central office and at the station have been restored tonormal and the pay station is ready for the next call.

In case the call was not successfully completed to the telephonedesired, the above operations would be repeated except that the operatorwould depress the coin return key 36 instead of the coin collect key 32.The circuit in this event is as follows. The vnegative battery .isconnected through lamp 51, relay winding 52, make contact 53 of the key36 to the station and the. magnet in the manner described for thecollect operation. The operation of relay 52 lights thepilot lamp 37.The completion of the circuit to the magnet causes the armature 66 ofthe magnet 9 to operate inthe refund direction moving the operating armv8 and the coin vane 6 (Fig. 5) to the right permitting the coin 26 toslide olf the trap 7 into the return chute 3 where it can be recoveredby the patron through the opening 4 by the movement of the plug 5. Whilethe armature 66 is held operated in the refund position, the groundcontact springs 23 are held closedand the coin trigger arm 22 is raisedso that the coin trigger 21 may restore. When the coin return key 36 isreleased, the magnet 9 is deenergized, the retractile springs restorethe armature 66 and the ground contact springs 23 are opened. Theoperations of disconnecting are the same as were described for thecollection of the coin.

However, if the plug 5 is wedged in the rearmost position so that thearmature 66 cannot operate to the refund position when the coin returnkey 36 is operated, the coin trigger arm 22 (Fig. 5) will not be liftedand the coin trigger 21 will remain 'in the tripped position keeping theground contact springs 23 closed. If the patron realizes before he hangsup that the mechanism is blocked so that the return of the coin cannotproceed in the usual manner, heV

can signal the operator by operating the switchhook to close itscontacts 38 so as to deenergize the supervisory relay 45, removing theshunt from the lamp 47 so it will be lighted. The operator will thencommunicate with the patron and will then be informed by the patron thattheV money has not been refunded. The operator can operate the coinreturn key 36 again and by observation of the lamp 51 and the pilot lamp37 can determine that 'the coin return current has again been applied tothe line and can ascertain in that way that the ground contact springs23 have not been opened as would be the case with thenormal refunding ofthe coin. The operator can then operate the coin collect key 32 tocollect the coins inasmuch as the magnet 9 is not blocked from operationin the collect direct-ion. The ground .contact springs 23 will then beopened and the operator can determine by subseuuent operation or" thecollect key and observation of the lamps 33 and 37 the coins have beencollected. The operator can then communicate with the patron and advisehim ci the that the refunding mechanism out of order and arrange toreimburse him in the manner provided for such cases.

If the patron has ro the receiver on the hook before noting that theplug is wedged and the refunding mechanism is disabled, the operatorwill note the religliting of the lamp 47 due to the deenergizing ofrelay and will disconnect the plug SG from the jack 3l .in the regularWay, no knowing that the c in has not been refunded. Relay 27 will bedeenergized by the disconnect operation and as the 'ground contactsprings 23 are still closed due to the trigger 21 not having beenrestored, the relay 28 Will be energized again and the lamp 29 will berelighted. This Will signal the operator again and she Will replace theplug 39 in the jack 31 and communicate with the patron in case he hasremoved his receiver from the hook and is atthen collect the coin.

The operator ordinarily will then advise the repair forces of thetrouble condition existing at the pay station and arrange to have thecoin collector restored to normal operation.

It should be noted from the foregoing de scription of this inventionthat any disabling of the return chute mechanism so that coins willaccumulate in the return chute and later be re- Ymoved by the person Whodisabled the mechanism is prevented. Furt ermore, the disabling of thereturn chute mechanism by Wedging the plug in the rearinost position isclearly indicated to the patron by the normal appearance of the v returnchute mechanism enabling the patron to A lent collection of money fromthe return chute 'diierent types of coin return chutes.

by unscrupulous individuals is impossible.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specifictype of coil collector, it may be modied in obvious Ways to meet therequirements of coin collecting apparatus having Likewise, it isapplicable to coin collectors connected to dial central oflice lines.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin collecting device including a rcturn chute adapted toreceive and retain refunded coins temporarily, a magnet for controllingthe movement of the coins to said chute and means normally disconnectedirpm said magnet for mechanically causing its imbalance to prevent themovement of coins to the return chute When said chute is renderedinoperative.

2. In a coin collecting device, a coin control magnet for collecting orrefunding coins in ac- ;cordance with the character of the currentapplied thereto, a return chute adapted to reth o, a return chute withan accessible p0rtion to receive refunded coins, and meansnorinallyconnected from` said coin control magnet for mechanicallyobstructing said coin control from operating in the refund upon therendering of said rcturn chute inoativc for the return of said coins byfraudul nt anip-ulation, said means being disconnected from the coincontrol magnet and clearing said coin control magnet for operation inthe refund direction upon the return chute being made operative for thereturn of said coins.

fl. In a coin collecting device, a magnet for controlling the collectingand refunding of coins, a return chute associated with `said magnet andadapted to receive 'refunded coins, and toggle means for obstructingsaid magnet from operating to refund coins upon the disabling of thereturn chute by fraudulent manipulation.

5. ln a coin collecting device, a magnet Ifor controlling the collectingand refunding of coins, a ret "rn chute associated with said magnet andadapted to receive refunded coins, and toggle means for obstructing saidmagnet from refunding coins upon the disabling of the return chute byfraude-.lent operation, and for clearing said magnet for refundingvcoins upon the restoration of the return chute to operative condition.

Sfln a coin collecting device, a magnet for controlling the c llectingand refunding ofcoins, a return chute associated with said magnet andadapted to receive refunded coins, toggle means normally disconnectedfrom saidl coin control magnet for obstructing said coin control magnetfrom refunong coins upon the disabling of the return chute by fraudulentoperation, said toggle means being arranged for clearing said coincontrol magnet for refunding coins upon the restoration of the returnchute to operative condition, said toggle means being also arranged forpermittingthe collecting of coins With the return chute inoperative andoperative.

7. In a coin collecting device, a coin control magnet for collecting orrefunding coins in accordance with the polarity of the current appliedthereto, a return chute adapted to retain refunded coins temporarily,and 'toggle means normally disconnected from said coin control magnetfor obstructing said coin control magnet from refunding coins during theapplication of refund current upon the disabling of the return chute byfraudulent operation, the collecting of coins by the coin control magnetduring the application of collect current being unalfected, said togglemeans being adapted to clear coin control magnet for refunding coinsduring tl e application of refund current upon restoration of the returnchute to operative condition.

8. In a coin collecting device including a coin control magnet, a returnchute for said device having an exit opening normally closed, and meansto imbalance the coin control magnet upon the rendering of said returnchute ineffective by fraudulent manipulation for the refunding of coins.

9. In a coin collecting device including a coin control magnet and areturn chute, a plug normally closing the exit opening from said returnchute, said plug being movable to clear said exit opening for extractingrefunded coins, and means associated With said plug for disabling saidcoin control magnet from refunding coins when said plug is moved toclear the exit opening.

1G. In a coin collecting device, a coin control magnet for collecting orrefunding coins in accordance With the polarity of the current appliedthereto, a return coin chute having an exit opening, a movable plugnormally closing said exit opening, said plug preventing access to thecoin control magnet by the insertion of foreign material through saidreturn chute, said plug also being adapted to prevent the stufling offoreign material into the return chute past said plug, and meansresponsive to the fraudulent manipulation of said plug to prevent theremoval of refunded coins by obstructing the coin control magnet fromoperating in the refund direction upon the applicationA of refundcurrent.

11. In a telephone system including a central station and a substationconnected thereto, coin collect and coin return keys at the centralstation, a coin collecting device including a coin control magnet at thesubstation, a return coin chute for the collecting device, andmechanical means normally disconnected from said coin control magnet,said means being actuated in response to fraudulent manipulation todisable said return chute by obstructing said coin con trol magnet fromdischarging coins into the return coin chute upon the operation of thecoin collect or coin return keys.

12. In a telephone system including a central station and a substationconnected thereto, coin collect and coin return keys at the centralstation, a coin collecting device at the substation, a coin controlmagnet therefor, a return coin chute and a collect coin chute associatedWith said magnet, and toggle linkage means actuated by the disabling ofsaid return coin chute for obstructing said coin control magnet toprevent the discharge of coins to the return coin chute upon theoperation of the coin return key and to permit the passage of coins tosaid collect chute upon the operation of said coin collect key.

13. In a telephone system including a central station and a substationconnected thereto, coin collect and coin return keys at the centralstation, a coin collecting device at the substation, a coin controlmagnet therefor, a return chute associated with said magnet having anexit opening, a plug for normally closing said opening and means tounbalance the coin control magnet upon the rendering of said returnchute ineffective when said plug is tampered with to prevent therefunding of coins by the operation of the coin collect key.

14. In a telephone system including a central station and a substationconnected thereto, coin collect and coin return keys at a centralstation, a coin collecting device at the substation, a coin controlmagnet therefor, a return chute having an exit opening, a plug normallyclosing said opening, said plug being movable to extract refunded coinsfrom said return chute, and toggle means associated with said plug forpreventing sai-:l coin control magnet from refunding coins upon theoperation of the coin return key when said plug is clear of said exitopening and to permit the passage of coins to said collect chute uponthe operation of said coin collect key.

15. In a coin collecting device, a coin control magnet therefor, areturn chute leading from said coin control magnet having a depressionadapted to receive and retain refunded coins temporarily and an exitopening through which the coins may be recovered, and means for closingsaid exit opening while said return chute is receptive to the dischargeof coins from said coin control magnet into said depression, said meansbeing movable upon the extraction of coins from `said return chutedepression to close said return chute against the discharge of coins andagainst attempts at fraudulent manipulation of the coin collectingdevice.

WILLIAM H. EDWARDS.

